“I hope you don’t mean me,” I said. He was sensible enough not to give any answer.

The only way to pry my New Asia story loose from Bob Marcus’s deep freeze was to enlist the executive editor. I called Peggy Moran in New York and said I needed to speak with her boss. She asked what subject, and I told her I’d rather not talk about it on the phone, which had the intended effect of goosing her to put me on top of the call list. Weiss called me back a few minutes later.

“What’s up, Eric? I hope it’s not another job offer.” His voice was clipped; he sounded harassed.

“I just wanted to let you know I’ve finished that story we talked about when I was in New York.”

“Which one was that?”

“The one about French intelligence. I finished it, and I think it’s pretty good. But Bob Marcus is nervous about it. He’s been talking to Arthur, who’s been talking to the French ambassador, who doesn’t like it. But I think that’s bullshit.”

“Of course it’s bullshit. What do we care what the French ambassador thinks?”

“Right. But the story is stuck. It might help if you sent Marcus a message, saying how much you’re looking forward to seeing it in the paper. Because it’s good, I promise you. I’ll send you a copy.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m sure it’s good, if you say so. I just hate to meddle in things like this. It’s demoralizing for the bureau chiefs.”

“I understand.” I paused, to make sure he heard the next part clearly. “But this shouldn’t be happening. It could make the paper look bad. And I don’t want to have to raise the whole business about Arthur again.”

I hoped he understood. I had never threatened the executive editor before, and I had no idea how he would respond. But of course, he didn’t respond. He acted as if I had never said it.

But the next morning Bob Marcus stopped by my desk. He said he’d gotten a call from Weiss, inquiring about my story. And he’d done a little thinking of his own, as he had promised, and he thought all the story really needed was a little more background about the China communications contract, and some quotes from a few China experts, on the record.

And with those additions, and a careful reading from our lawyers, the New Asia story ran in the paper the next day. They treated it like a feature story, with an italic headline that read: FRENCH PLAY CHINA GAME, TOO.